Softball Splits America East Doubleheader Versus Maine

BALTIMORE – UMBC softball got its
bats going in its America East opening series on Saturday afternoon
at UMBC Softball Stadium, combining for 16 hits in two games,
including four hits apiece from sophomore catcher Taylor
Hall (Cosby, Va./Cosby) and freshman shortstop Bridget
O'Malley (Brooklyn, Md./Seton Keough). The Retrievers picked
up a 4-2 victory in game one of the doubleheader against Maine, but
fell, 11-7, in extra innings after coming from behind in the bottom
of the seventh to tie the game.

Hall and O’Malley combined for nine runs, eight hits and
three RBI on the day, while sophomore third baseman Courtney
Reinfeld (Parkland, Fla./Stoneman Douglas) chipped in four RBI
and junior second baseman Caitlin Chance (Easton,
Md./Easton) drove in three runs.

In both games, Maine was able to get out in front in the top of
the first inning. In the opener, the Black Bears took a 1-0 lead on
a double into left field from Hilary Kane, scoring Jessica Burk
from second, who reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced
to second on a walk.

The Retrievers evened things up in the bottom half of the inning
as O’Malley launched her first collegiate home run, sending
it over the fence in left field to tie the game at one apiece.

Senior Heather Brown (Pasdena, Md./Northeast) pitched
a beauty, but Maine’s second hit of the contest was a long
ball on a full count from junior third baseman Jean Stevens, her
team-leading seventh of the season, to put the Black Bears out in
front 2-1 in the top of the sixth inning.

UMBC responded though, taking over the lead in the bottom of the
sixth inning, with O’Malley – the Retrievers all-time
freshman walks leader – drawing a one-out walk and Hall
pelting her sixth home run of the year to give the Retrievers a 3-2
advantage. The black and gold were not done yet though, Chance drew
another walk for the Retrievers, forcing the exit of starting
pitcher Beth Spoehr and Reinfeld followed by picking up her first
RBI of the afternoon with a double down the left field line to give
UMBC an insurance run, 4-2.

The Black Bears put two runners on in the top of the seventh,
but Brown (4-6) was able to complete the game, throwing the
three-hit victory. Spoehr was credited with the loss (2-7), giving
up four runs on four hits in 5.2 innings.

In game two, a walk and two-run home run from Kane again put
Maine out in front after its first at bats. The Retrievers looked
to eliminate their deficit by threatening in the bottom of the
second, putting runners on first and second after a single and a
hit batter, but Maine’s starting pitcher Kylie Sparks was
able to get out of the jam with three consecutive ground outs.

The Black Bears added another run in the top of the third inning
with a solo home run from Stevens, her second of the afternoon, to
extend the lead to 3-0.

Maine further extended its lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning
after stringing together three hits and adding a pair of walks and
an UMBC error, but the Retrievers were able to chip away at the
deficit, picking up three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The black and gold loaded the bases with one out for Chance, who
came through with a two-run double down the right field line and
Reinfeld followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to
score Chelsea Bertoglio (Laguna Hills, Calif./Saddleback
College) from third, making it a 5-3 game.

UMBC starting pitcher Rachel Ionata (Tampa, Fla./Palm
Harbor University) settled in, not allowing a hit in her final two
innings, and allowing the Retrievers’ offense to come through
in the bottom of the seventh. O’Malley started things off
with a single off the tip of the pitchers glove and following a
Maine pitching change – Hannah Hill entering for starter
Kylie Sparks – Hall sent a double down the right field line
to put runners on second and third with no outs. A grounder hit
back to the pitcher from Bertoglio scored O’Malley from third
and brought UMBC within one, 5-4. Chance grounded out for the
second out of the inning, but moved Hall over to third and Reinfeld
came up big again for the Retrievers with the RBI single into left
center field to tie the game at five.

Brown entered the game for UMBC in the eighth and both her and
Hill were able to get through the eighth after facing three batters
apiece. In the ninth, the Black Bears loaded the bases with a pair
of singles and a walk and from there exploded for six runs in the
frame. The Retrievers tried to recover, cashing in two runs in the
bottom half of the inning, but it was not enough to complete the
comeback victory.

Brown, game one’s winner, was credited with the loss
(4-7), while Hill picked up her second win of the season (2-8).

The Retrievers conclude their America East opening series
against Maine on Sunday, March 24. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
at the UMBC Softball Stadium.